Posted on 08/06/2015 11:38:36 AM PDT by xzins
Before that was the LCMS pastor breaching his office confidentiality in order to blackball members from serving on committees. I was the head elder at the time, and also got smeared during the ensuing battle; so, I know the member complaints were valid.
When your church starts preaching support of political entities and/or lifestyles that conflict with your religious beliefs, it is spiritual.
The church was too judgmental. Even if no one actually said anything directly to me, the fact that the Church consistently preaches and teaches against my particular sinful lifestyle makes me squirm.
The church bureaucracy was stifling. The pastor or Church administration would not approve my starting a Bible study based on the teachings of Oprah Winfrey.
They didn't like the lecture style of preaching. Clear and orthodox teaching aimed at adults is too hard; I want more touchy-feely where I can interpret God's word to fit my lifestyle.
The church was not where they encountered God. I don't need a Church to worship God; I can worship him in nature. Or at the football game. Or shopping at the mall. Or from my easy chair in front of the TV. Or laying in bed on Sunday morning.
The church took a social or political stance they disagreed with. My kid/brother/sister is gay.
Or, to women who appreciate real men. That was my point - not, women in general, but women of a certain type and mindset.
I left the church because it had people. Two faced with many other defects.
So would I.
A word to the wise: anytime any religious person starts talking about “finding the historical Jesus” let your antennae go on alert. You could be dealing with an atheist in religious garb who “believes” in a “mytholical” Jesus.
The real Jesus of real history is the one in the bible.
These folks mean something different: they mean peel back the layers of history to reveal there’s nothing supernatural that is valid.
....And they have nothing to back the so-called claims up.
None of those are my reason.
My reason is that every church I have gone to for the last 40 years is in some sort of money drive to get bigger or build better.
I can do better with a friend on my porch.
Or put another way, the church would not validate my sinful choices...
I make a distinction between those who are growing because they’re making new Christians and those who are growing because they’re attracting already Christians from other area churches. I also think there’s a difference between practical and opulent. It’s rational for 1000 people to need a bigger building than 100 people. It’s opulent for it to have a recliner massage in every seat.
**The church was too judgmental.
The church bureaucracy was stifling.**
These could go together. The judgmental might emit from someone who was overpowering.
**They didn’t like the lecture style of preaching. **
This is a “hmmm.” Some people like it some people don’t.
In their own private church of their mind.
**The church was not where they encountered God. **
A question mark on this. If they don’t encounter God in Scripture....too bad.
The second part of this, though, is the pastor listening to their woes. A good listener is a big plus.
**The church took a social or political stance they disagreed with. **
We call these people “Cafeteria Catholics.”
Could there also be “ Cafeteria Christians, Protestants, Lutherans, Presbyterians, etc. etc.?”
Along with your spectator comment is
I want to be entertained by the choir as though I am in a concert.
I get the impression that some men don't like a religion that allows women to think they have a value other than their utility to men.
Aren’t you talking about the sin of sloth?
** The pastor preaches too long and we don’t get a seat at our favorite restaurant after church.**
That’s why you have Knights of Columbus pancake breakfasts.
Do you have a men’s or women’s group who could put something like that together?
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